Study of the Natural Crystalline Lens Characteristics Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography
There is a paucity of radiologic literature regarding age-related cataract, and little is known about any differences in the imaging appearance of the natural crystalline lens on computed tomography (CT) exams among different demographic groups. In this retrospective review of 198 eyes in 103 adults...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Diagnostics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/11/2857 |
| _version_ | 1797465569164787712 |
|---|---|
| author | Jeffrey R. Sachs Javier A. Nahmias Kevin D. Hiatt James G. Bomar Thomas G. West Paul M. Bunch Marc D. Benayoun Chris Lack Atalie C. Thompson |
| author_facet | Jeffrey R. Sachs Javier A. Nahmias Kevin D. Hiatt James G. Bomar Thomas G. West Paul M. Bunch Marc D. Benayoun Chris Lack Atalie C. Thompson |
| author_sort | Jeffrey R. Sachs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a paucity of radiologic literature regarding age-related cataract, and little is known about any differences in the imaging appearance of the natural crystalline lens on computed tomography (CT) exams among different demographic groups. In this retrospective review of 198 eyes in 103 adults who underwent dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) exams of the head, regions of interest spanning 3–5 mm were placed over the center of the lens, and the x-ray attenuation of each lens was recorded in Hounsfield Units (HU) at 3 energy levels: 40 keV, 70 keV, and 190 keV. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to assess the association of clinical or demographic data with lens attenuation. The mean HU values were significantly lower for the older vs. younger group at 40 keV (GEE <i>p</i>-value = 0.022), but there was no significant difference at higher energy levels (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Mean HU values were significantly higher for females vs. males and non-whites vs. non-Hispanic whites at all 3 energy levels in bivariate and multivariable analyses (all <i>p</i>-value < 0.05). There was no significant association between lens attenuation and either diabetes or smoking status. The crystalline lens of females and non-whites had higher attenuation on DECT which may suggest higher density or increased concentration of materials like calcium and increased potential for cataract formation. Given the large scope of cataracts as a cause of visual impairment and the racial disparities that exist in its detection and treatment, further investigation into the role of opportunistic imaging to detect cataract formation is warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:23:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f2a12860dc743ba8cb5e7f0121d3548 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:23:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f2a12860dc743ba8cb5e7f0121d35482023-11-24T08:05:22ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182022-11-011211285710.3390/diagnostics12112857Study of the Natural Crystalline Lens Characteristics Using Dual-Energy Computed TomographyJeffrey R. Sachs0Javier A. Nahmias1Kevin D. Hiatt2James G. Bomar3Thomas G. West4Paul M. Bunch5Marc D. Benayoun6Chris Lack7Atalie C. Thompson8Department of Radiology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Surgical Ophthalmology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Radiology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Radiology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Radiology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Radiology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Radiology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Radiology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USADepartment of Surgical Ophthalmology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USAThere is a paucity of radiologic literature regarding age-related cataract, and little is known about any differences in the imaging appearance of the natural crystalline lens on computed tomography (CT) exams among different demographic groups. In this retrospective review of 198 eyes in 103 adults who underwent dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) exams of the head, regions of interest spanning 3–5 mm were placed over the center of the lens, and the x-ray attenuation of each lens was recorded in Hounsfield Units (HU) at 3 energy levels: 40 keV, 70 keV, and 190 keV. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to assess the association of clinical or demographic data with lens attenuation. The mean HU values were significantly lower for the older vs. younger group at 40 keV (GEE <i>p</i>-value = 0.022), but there was no significant difference at higher energy levels (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Mean HU values were significantly higher for females vs. males and non-whites vs. non-Hispanic whites at all 3 energy levels in bivariate and multivariable analyses (all <i>p</i>-value < 0.05). There was no significant association between lens attenuation and either diabetes or smoking status. The crystalline lens of females and non-whites had higher attenuation on DECT which may suggest higher density or increased concentration of materials like calcium and increased potential for cataract formation. Given the large scope of cataracts as a cause of visual impairment and the racial disparities that exist in its detection and treatment, further investigation into the role of opportunistic imaging to detect cataract formation is warranted.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/11/2857dual-energy computed tomographynatural crystalline lenssexrace |
| spellingShingle | Jeffrey R. Sachs Javier A. Nahmias Kevin D. Hiatt James G. Bomar Thomas G. West Paul M. Bunch Marc D. Benayoun Chris Lack Atalie C. Thompson Study of the Natural Crystalline Lens Characteristics Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Diagnostics dual-energy computed tomography natural crystalline lens sex race |
| title | Study of the Natural Crystalline Lens Characteristics Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography |
| title_full | Study of the Natural Crystalline Lens Characteristics Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography |
| title_fullStr | Study of the Natural Crystalline Lens Characteristics Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography |
| title_full_unstemmed | Study of the Natural Crystalline Lens Characteristics Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography |
| title_short | Study of the Natural Crystalline Lens Characteristics Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography |
| title_sort | study of the natural crystalline lens characteristics using dual energy computed tomography |
| topic | dual-energy computed tomography natural crystalline lens sex race |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/11/2857 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeffreyrsachs studyofthenaturalcrystallinelenscharacteristicsusingdualenergycomputedtomography AT javieranahmias studyofthenaturalcrystallinelenscharacteristicsusingdualenergycomputedtomography AT kevindhiatt studyofthenaturalcrystallinelenscharacteristicsusingdualenergycomputedtomography AT jamesgbomar studyofthenaturalcrystallinelenscharacteristicsusingdualenergycomputedtomography AT thomasgwest studyofthenaturalcrystallinelenscharacteristicsusingdualenergycomputedtomography AT paulmbunch studyofthenaturalcrystallinelenscharacteristicsusingdualenergycomputedtomography AT marcdbenayoun studyofthenaturalcrystallinelenscharacteristicsusingdualenergycomputedtomography AT chrislack studyofthenaturalcrystallinelenscharacteristicsusingdualenergycomputedtomography AT ataliecthompson studyofthenaturalcrystallinelenscharacteristicsusingdualenergycomputedtomography |